Stringer Repair

[Craig W]

While I'm waiting for delivery of my copy of "The Fiberglass Boat Repair Manual" I had a question asked that has got me wondering right now.<br /><br />The project and existing situation: My father in-law's 1989 19' Baretta bowrider. Has some soft areas in the floor. This past weekend we removed the floor and it revealled all the nasties one might expect from a 14 year old boat. <br />It has been built (I'm assuming it may be a typical situation?) with the plywood floor was coated (glass & resin) only on the top. The floor was stapled (!!?!?) to the stringers thru the glass & resin, and the stringers were 3/4" plywood with additional 1x2's where width was needed. After removing some floatation foam (which was not as saturated as I was expecting) we noticed where the stringers were glassed to the hull that 95% of it is still sound but the top surface was left exposed. It's only in the areas that were exposed that rot has really taken a strong hold <br /><br />Anyways, I've been reasearching this project like crazy (this site is amazing btw! thanx everyone ) and our attitudes are, fix it ALL and properly (take the extra time and bux) and he'll get a good number of years out of it. <br /><br />I've talked with him about what I'd been reading and learning so far re: epoxy vs polyester resins, encapsulating the new floor and I (assumed) the stringers would be fully encapsulated as well -currently they are atleast 1/2 rotted, so full replacement will be taking place . He mentioned that he talked with someone today who happened to build boats (not sure what kind or to what extent) but this person commented that stringers aren't fully encapsulated due to moisture content of the wood when installed and "needing to breathe" ?? Is this right? or a technique of years past?<br /><br />any comments would be appreciated (I'm sure I'll have more questions in days to come)<br /><br />thanks, (and sorry about the lenght)<br />Craig

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Stringer Repair

Glass every square inch of the structure. There is no "breathing" going on under there, just rotting.

 

[Craig W]

Re: Stringer Repair

Thanks Jason. Your project has been very educational as well.

 

[paragod]

Re: Stringer Repair

I did all new stringers in a 1991 Runabout and used Seacast now I have all composit stringers no wood and starboard floor a little exspensive but will never have to do it again Hey put the plug in and let it rain instant pool !!!!!!!! just kidding!

 

[crab bait]

Re: Stringer Repair

that goes for all boat wood not just stringers... if'n its high moisture content an fully encapsuled...<br /><br />yes,,, it'll rot... <br /><br />but if'n you don't encapsulate,,, it'll rot,,too... <br /><br />just encapsulate dry wood... than no rot..

 

[johnnybigrigger]

Re: Stringer Repair

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

 

[Hooty]

Re: Stringer Repair

Paragod has tha hot ticket. No wood! <br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[JoeW]

Re: Stringer Repair

My hat's off to you folks who have taken on the job of replacing stringers. I gave up on my 88' SeaRay bowrider because of rotten stringers, floor etc. It didn't help when my nephew put three holes in the hull as he left it on the rocks overnight. The stringers in that boat had been completely enclosed in glass & resin. The problem was that the floor had been secured to the stringers with stainless steel screws which compromised the seal on the stringers. This was enough to rot the entire back end of the boat. I would tend to agree with paragod. If there's no wood in it, it can't rot.

 

[G DANE]

Re: Stringer Repair

Campion now procuces boats without wood. Good idea. You can buy glassfiber sheets from some of the companies that build cooling containers. Can be used to produce stringers and stuff. Try to find one in your area. They often sells what if cut off cheap.

 

[Craig W]

Re: Stringer Repair

Well, call me a sucker for punishment, but I'm working on 2 boats at one time!! Up to now, my questions have been related mostly to what I've been coming up against on my father in-laws bowrider. At this time I've now finished removing the entire floor and foam exposing all the lovely rot in the stringers (hehe, AND the look on his face while helping me pull the engine out of his boat last week was priceless he'd never expected to see these parts of his boat! )<br /><br />Well, this finally gave me a break from his boat and I'm now diving into some work on mine -a 1989 16.5' Cami Falcon Bowrider with a 115HP Yami outboard. I had some soft spots on the floor and have just pulled the carpet and cut a section of the floor out to determine the extent of the damage. Thankfully, it's not that bad. My boat had ALL the wood resin coated AND glassed up to the top of the stringers. It's evident that the tops of the stringers were coated too, but there has been some minor areas where water has intruded into the core of a few of the stringers thru the screw points.<br /><br />I have to comment it's absolutely amazing to see how the different boat building techniques on each boat have held up (or not held up) over the last 14 years.<br /><br />My FIL's boat will have ALL stringers and the floor replaced with FRP. Thru a friend of a friend he just scored 3-4x8 sheets of 3/8" and 2-4x8 sheets of 5/8" all for $200CAN!! There will be no further rotting going on in his boat! I will be replacing my floor and fixing a couple stringers with fully encapuslated ply.<br /><br />BTW, since my initial post here, I have received and almost finished the "Fiberglass boat repair manual" It's an excellent book, but definately for the more technically oriented type individual. Alot of techy mumble jumble (for those like me who enjoy that stuff). I'd be curious what the "Runabout Renovations" would be like.<br /><br />..and I do have progress pics I will be posting, hopefully by the end of the weekend.